MARCOS AMBROSE PARTNERS WITH IRACING.COM

Quote :

12 May 2009 http://www.iracing.com
MARCOS AMBROSE PARTNERS WITH IRACING.COM


AUSTRALIAN motorsport superstar Marcos Ambrose has partnered with iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations, the global leader in online auto racing competition, to expand the presence of the company’s internet racing service in Australia and New Zealand.

Local fans will now have the chance to race Ambrose and a host of other big-name drivers and celebrities from all over the world through their own iRacing.com account.

iRacing.com has been developed over the past five years at a cost to date of more than $US25 million and offers a host of road and oval racing experiences.

Ambrose won two Australian V8 Supercar titles before heading to the US where he is now a competitor in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Already thousands of professional racers, amateur competitors and every day fans are using iRacing.com to develop their racing skills and track knowledge as well as become actively involved in regular organised competition.

The push into the Australian and New Zealand markets will involve:

• Introductory discounts for new players

• The future introduction of Australian tracks

• Regular participation by several V8 Supercar drivers and other high-profile racers

• An on-going range of incentives and competitions

• The activation of an Australian-based server to ensure ultimate performance

iRacing.com was founded in September 2004 by well-known gaming designer Dave Kaemmer and John Henry, who is the principal owner of the Boston Red Sox baseball team and Fenway Sports Group.

All you need to race Ambrose and other racers from around the globe is an up-to-date PC, gaming steering wheel and pedals (which you can buy for as little as $100 from your local electronics store), a high-speed internet connection and an iRacing.com account.

“iRacing is an amazing simulation system which has helped me enormously as I have tackled my first year in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition,” said Ambrose.

“It is the closest thing to real racing that you can get and there is a growing list of professional drivers – including guys like A.J Allmendinger, Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt J.R – who use iRacing.com to fine-tune their skills, especially before heading to a particular track.

“The great thing is that iRacing.com is for everyone. Budgets are not an excuse here, you just go out and race.

“iRacing.com is also a terrific social venue for racers to find like-minded friends from all over the world. It is a fantastic service for individuals or a bunch of mates who want to get together regularly, wherever they are in the world, to race.”

Monthly subscriptions are regularly priced at $US19 ($US13 per month for an annual subscription), but as a special introductory offer to new subscribers in Australia and New Zealand, iRacing.com is offering a $US25 three-month subscription.

All fans have to do is go to iRacing.com and complete the registration using the special promotion code of “PR-AMBROSE”.

iRacing’s Executive producer, Steve Myers, is excited about the prospects that the Australian and New Zealand markets offer.

“Australians and New Zealanders have traditionally had a presence in international motorsport far beyond what you’d predict based on population size alone,” noted Myers.

“And they represent an outsized proportion of our membership as well. Our partnership with Marcos will help us spread the word about iRacing.com even more widely in two countries that are already keen on motorsport.

“As this relationship develops we expect to add local tracks and cars that will then be available to iRacers all over the world. But we’ll also have events and special membership offers, including the one we’re announcing now, that are only available to Kiwis and Aussies.”

NEW IRACING.com SERVERS SET TO OPEN IN AUSTRALIA

The physical distance to much of the rest of the world has proven to be a challenge when Australians and New Zealanders participate in global online activities. In order to facilitate better service for its growing cadre of members in this part of the world, iRacing.com is setting up a base of dedicated race-hosting servers in Sydney.

“Eventually we expect to have a number of ‘server farms’ located in different parts of the world, in addition to our main one near our company headquarters in Massachusetts, but this is the first one to come online,” said Chris Page, iRacing.com’s Vice President of Technology.

“We have quite a few members in Australia and New Zealand already, and we expect that number to grow sharply over the next few months. The opening of the new servers will help ensure that all of our customers have the best possible online racing experience.”

HOW TO GET STARTED

All that’s needed for an aspiring internet racer to compete with Ambrose and other racers from around the globe is an up-to-date PC running Windows XP or Vista, an inexpensive gaming steering wheel and pedals (which you can buy for as little as $100 from your local electronics store), a high-speed internet connection and an iRacing.com account.

For the latter, go to iRacing.com, click the box in the upper right hand corner labeled “activate promotion code” and complete the registration using the special promotion code “PR-AMBROSE”.

Already thousands of professional racers, amateur competitors and everyday fans are using iRacing.com to develop their racing skills and track knowledge as well as become actively involved in regular organised competition.

WHAT IS IRACING.COM?

iRacing.com is a subscription-based racing simulation service designed as a driver training tool for people who race in the physical world and for those who aspire to do so. iRacing is also a platform for the newest form of global motorsport - real-time, online competition, known as internet racing.

iRacing membership includes access to the world's most accurate racing simulation software and unlimited seat-time to build and hone the skills necessary to win on-track. In addition, the integrated service features professionally sanctioned racing for drivers of all skill levels, and every subscription includes everything you need to compete for race wins and season-long championships.

"iRacing.com is the most modern racing simulation ever created,” said Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

“Every inch of every track is modeled perfectly. I've used iRacing.com to learn new courses such as Virginia International Raceway, or to keep the rust off at tracks such as Infineon Raceway. For the hardcore sim racer, this is your dream simulation. For the actual real-world racer, this is your 'at-home' test vehicle. Acclimate yourself with a new course or learn something new on an old favorite. Even a rookie in the sim racing world can get up to speed fast within the iRacing.com system."

iRacing.com subscribers are part of a global community of racers and enthusiasts that includes drivers of all types (amateur to pro), interests (oval and road racing), and nationalities. Members can develop friendships - and racing rivalries - with drivers from all over the world, and do so in an environment that emphasises respect and civility towards fellow racers.

iRacing.com was founded in September of 2004 by Dave Kaemmer and John Henry. Kaemmer was co-founder of Papyrus Design Group, developers of award-winning racing simulations including NASCAR Racing: 2003 Season and Grand Prix Legends. Henry is principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Sports Group – the co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing – as well as an avid simracer.

The iRacing.com team combines more than 100 years of real-world racing experience with more than 50 years of successful racing simulation development. The company has developed numerous corporate relationships in the motorsport industry, including agreements to develop track simulations with International Speedway Corporation, Speedway Motorsports Inc. and Panoz Motor Sports Group and vehicles with General Motors, Riley Technologies, Radical Sportscars, and 600 Racing.

iRacing.com is the official simulation partner of the Star Mazda Championship and the Skip Barber Racing School. The service is open to racers and fans of all skill levels from top-level pros to complete beginners. To join in the fun, go to www.iRacing.com.

Marcos Ambrose will be the face of iRacing.com in Australia and New Zealand



Ambrose can be found regularly racing online at iRacing.com, allowing members to race him from anywhere in the world


iRacing.com members will have the chance to race Marcos Ambrose at the V8 Super School on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia


The V8 Super School on the Gold Coast now features an iRacing.com liveried Ford Falcon V8 race car